Eric Clapton Gives His Support To Roger Waters’ Political Stance

Eric Clapton has recently voiced support for Roger Waters‘ right to express his outspoken political views, despite the controversies surrounding Waters.

Over the years, Waters has faced numerous accusations of making antisemitic remarks and actions at his concerts. In 2023, he drew significant criticism for wearing a Nazi-like costume during a performance in Berlin, which led to an investigation by the German police. Additionally, his concert in Frankfurt was almost canceled due to these allegations but eventually went ahead. The U.S. State Department has also condemned Waters, stating that he has “a long track record of using antisemitic tropes.”

Waters, known for his strong stance against Israel’s activities in Palestine, insists that his criticisms are directed at the country, not Judaism. He has accused his detractors of “abusing the term ‘anti-Semitism’ to intimidate people like me into silence.”

Most recently, Waters became the subject of a documentary titled The Dark Side of Roger Waters, produced by the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism. Earlier this year, he criticized Bono for remarks made during a U2 concert, where Bono paid tribute to the victims of the October 7, 2023 attack on the Supernova music festival by Hamas. Waters remarked:

“We have to start saying to these people, your opinion is so disgusting and so degrading… sticking up for the Zionist entity.
“What he did a couple of weeks ago in the Sphere in Las Vegas, singing about the Stars of David, was one of the most disgusting things I’ve ever seen in my life.”

Clapton, who has also faced backlash for his public statements, was recently asked about the notion that artists should “stick to music.” He responded to The Real Music Observer, saying:

“I don’t respond to the word ‘should’ very well. Anyone that tells me what I should be doing, I’m going to do the opposite. Not just out of spite, but because who are they to tell me how to live my life? I don’t interfere with them.”

Expressing his support for Waters, Clapton added:

“I love Roger. I love him. We are brothers and he goes his way about it, and it takes a lot of guts, and he suffers from it terribly. I’ve seen him sit on the window ledge in tears and say ‘It’s morning here in Manhattan and I’m in tears again.’ you know?”

Clapton’s Own Criticism About Other Issues

Clapton himself is no stranger to controversy. His history of inflammatory remarks dates back to a notorious incident in 1976 when he delivered a bigoted speech on stage while visibly intoxicated, sparking the Rock Against Racism movement.

More recently, he has been vocal about his opposition to COVID-19 vaccine “propaganda” and the lockdown laws imposed by the English government. In 2021, Clapton declared that he would refuse to perform at any venue requiring proof of vaccination, denouncing it as discriminatory. In 2023, he supported Stephen Stills in raising funds for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s presidential campaign, despite Kennedy’s controversial and misleading claims about vaccines. Clapton explained:

“Music is a healing agent. I believe that there is a system of thinking about how you conduct yourself in that realm, and to be responsible not to offend people.
“A lot of people really don’t expect me or Roger to stick to what we say, but we do. And I think I have a responsibility because of what I told you earlier that I’m there carrying a message of hope, for love, peace, and freedom. You know that’s my responsibility as a musician.”